News & Events 2016
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December 2016
Johannesburg - SOUTH AFRICA Arrived in Johannesburg for my Magazine and media photo shoot for early next year release. I also met Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka. I met him a couple of years earlier, while shooting my next film about the FIFA World Cup, it comes out early in 2017. Windhoek- NAMIBIA It was great to meet First Lady Monica Geingos for my new series profiling powerful African Business women, in her capacity as Chairwoman of E-Bank Namibia. A few months earlier, I had profiled Mrs Tabitha Karaja of Keroche Breweries in Kenya, as the only female CEO of a major Brewery in Africa - very impressive !!!. I met in a small re-union for a very special reason some students from my first Film Making 101 class, held in March 2016 at Hilton Hotel Windhoek. One of the students had just made her very first documentary, using a borrowed camera, about rural education in Northern Namibia. It was a cool and special moment for us all. I presentd her with some gifts and film making materials to allow her continue, and to encourage others too. Nairobi - KENYA Visited incredible Kenya for the second time in 12 months. I conducted my Film Making 101 class this time in Mathare, to some very excited students. I also did the same at the SOS Childrens Orphane Village. Then I met the members of the MTV Award Winners in 2016 - Afro Pop group SAUTI SOL. They are just cool gentlemen. We talked about ways our projects could work together for more African children to get educated. |
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November 2016
Mauritius - INDIAN OCEAN - Guest of Mauritian Governent I was invited by the Mauritius government to attend their 11th annual Kreole Festival of many activities across the Island. As a film judge, I spent an evening in Quatre Barnes at the finals of the film competition. I was invited to address many youths about the importance of an education and having dreams. I also delivered my "Film Making Class 101" program to about 150 youths. As a guest of the Deputy Prime Minister at Africa night, I attended the colorful event along with the First Lady of Zambia - Mrs Esther Lungu. |
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October 2016
Los Angeles - Jacaranda Malawi Fundsraiser Gala A true, true honor to be invited to this event in Los Angeles to benefit the Jacaranda school in Malawi. I visited the school in 2013 in Malawi when I was 11. All the students there are orphaned by AIDS. I promised some of the kids that when I got older like 19 or 20 and had a little money, I would support them. But Three years later, I got the chance. It felt so cool to be there. I was glad about it. The money would support one student for one whole year, with food, clothing, uniform and books. So cool to be able to help. Its just the beginning. I also spoke about my experience when I visited the Orphanage 3 years earlier. |
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September 2016
New York - UN General Assembly Event September 2016 was my most busy time that I can remember. I was invited to various events during the 71st UN General Assembly in New York. I was a special guest at the Equal Futures event started by President Obama in 2012 and hosted this time by Secretary of State - John Kerry. During the General Assembly, I received an invitation to the Climate Change session, and learned about the effects in Africa [The Lake Chad Basin] and the Pacific Region. I met the Prime Minsters of Samoa and Tuvalu, to learn the effects. Met also the Prime Minister of Jamaica to talk other important issues. |
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July 2016
West Africa Started my West Africa July speaking tour by speaking at a TEDx event, my first, about connectivity between the past generation and the current one. |
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June 2016
Los Angeles - USA I was invited as a keynote speaker for the annual Women In Entertainment luncheon in Los Angeles. As a panelist, I talked about film making and my experiences with it. Abuja - Nigeria Met with Nigeria's Education Minister to share my ideas on how more out of school children could be educated. I conducted a reading class for kindergarten kids, and helped open a new library in a poor area of Abuja. Lagos - Nigeria Conducted my second Film Making '101' class for children from two low income areas of Makoko and Ibeju Lekki. My first class was in Namibia. I'm loving it. My students are learning a lot, and are inspired. |
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May 2016
Lagos - Nigeria I was honored to be a judge for the 6th edition of Gods Children Great Talent reality TV show. Just came in from Namibia, and I was ready to help make the contestants relax and enjoy the show. The Pan African University invited me to speak to their undergrad class about my film making programs, and my communication and public speaking engagements. |
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April 2016 Washington DC - USA Meeting and interviewing my 19th World Leader, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, during the Nuclear Summit with President Barack Obama. He was pleased to share his story with me. As a 13 year old, I talked to him about Education, his first year in office, his challenges, his successes so far and what he wants Nigerians to do for their country Nigeria - to make it great again. Ocean City - Maryland USA I was invited to give the keynote address at the Maryland State Annual Child Education Conference in Ocean City. I learned a lot from the 600 delegates who were aged 23 - 65, during our interactive session of problems and solution delivery. Loved it !!! |
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March 2016
Meeting Namibia's President My second state visit to any country was Namibia. I was received formally and welcomed to Namibia by His Excellency President Hage Geingob at the State House in Windhoek. He is the 18th World leader I have met. We spoke about Education in Namibia, his successes so far, and what he wanted his legacy to be. I met the First Lady and Education Minister, and was treated t a formal lunch, and met hundreds of children in Namibia too. In 2013, I was received in Tanzania by the President H.E. Jakaya Kikwete and First Lady H.E. Salma Kikwete. London - ENGLAND I and more than 60 other women were nominated for the New African Women's Award in London at the ANdaz Hotel. Many, many accomplished women from Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Cote D'Ivoire and more than 8 other African countries were nominated and attended. I won the category of Rising Star. It was very nice and a great feeling :-) I met many people at the event, including my old friend H.E. Joyce Banda, whom I interviewed at age 10 when she was President, I met Ghana's Foreign Minister Hannah Tetteh, Chibok Girls serious Advocate Obiageli Ezekwesili, 2 of Africa's Brand experts Thebe Ikalafeng & Gina Din, and many other of Africa's business and women leaders. Lagos - NIGERIA Gods Children Great Talent begins As the biggest faith based youth talent event in Africa, the RCCG Gods Children's Great Talent starts in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. I was honored to be invited to be a judge in the Lagos Auditions. Great time seeing these brave and creative youths show their stuff. [www.gcgt.org]. There are auditions in the UK and the US too. Cool project. |
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February 2016
Windhoek - NAMIBIA Award Presentation to First Lady It was an honor to present the Annual DUSUSU First Lady Award to H.E Monica Geingos of Namibia, in Windhoek. In 2015, it went to the First Lady of Kenya, and in 2014 - the maiden edition, it went to the First Lady of Tanzania Teaching Youth Film Making Skill Because of the Support from Hilton Hotel who provided me the room and facility in Windhoek, I was able to conduct my first film making workshop, teaching youths who are already out of school some film making and editing skills. Education is not only English, Science, Geography or Algebra, but skills to allow youths survive in the real world. Conducted Short Seminar in Windhoek I conducted my second seminar and conference on development and inspiration to many in Windhoek. I first did this in Nairobi - Kenya in December last year. I learned a lot from older people, and they too learned a little from me. I hope to do more of this in other countries. Johannesburg - SOUTH AFRICA CNBC TV Event CNBC Africa did a feature on me for one of their programs, targeting Africa's youth. I shared my story about what I do, and why I do it. I want Africa's youths to have dreams - BIG dreams. |
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January 2016
Los Angeles - CALIFORNIA Pilot for New TV Project Me and my three younger siblings try our hands at producing our very own TV show. It is about the life of the youngest person to be President of the US. I wont tell you who played the US President. We are having a great time on set. |